Kill Speed, Not Neighbors

Dear Editor,

I am writing to express my serious concern regarding the safety of that stretch of Cross Bay Boulevard which traverses the Jamaica Bay Wildlife Preserve between the Joseph P. Addabbo Bridge and the community of Broad Channel.

This particular section of Cross Bay Boulevard is constantly used by motorists who largely ignore the posted 40 mph speed limit and traverse this largely deserted section of roadway at speeds well in excess of the posted speed limit. Between 2003 and 2007 there have been at least six (6) accidents along " this road resulting in twelve (12) deaths.

Back in 2006, a multi-use pathway was completed on the west side of this section of Cross Bay Boulevard utilizing both federal and state funds. The pathway is used and enjoyed by individuals, both adults and children, to walk, bicycle, roller skate, jog, etc. Community concerns were raised at that time with our government officials that the proximity of the multiuse pathway to the accident prone roadway with its speeding vehicles was an "accident waiting to happen."

Unfortunately, on April 16 of this year, that "accident" did occur. Broad Channel resident Joann Kodetsky was walking her dog along this multiuse path when both she and her dog were struck and killed by a speeding vehicle which had lost control, overturned and ran off the boulevard across the pathway into the preserve.

Unless there is a prompt, effective, and pro-active response forthcoming from the federal, state and city authorities responsible for this section of land that Wildlife Preserve, Cross Bay Boulevard and the pathway share, to address this problem, it is without question that there will be additional serious injuries and fatalities sustained by our neighbors and children who use this pathway, especially in the coming summer season.

Once again, the community of Broad Channel is reaching out to our elected and other government officials imploring them to acknowledge the fact that there exists a serious danger along this section of Cross Bay Boulevard and to do something about it!

In the interim, I would ask all motorists who utilize this roadway to please, "Kill your speed, not our neighbors!"